Chris Brown is the player in question.

RUN HARD is FOR C. Brown being a valuable fantasy RB this season
Hippo is AGAINST C. Brown being a valuable fantasy RB this season

Do your best to convince us your side is the right one.

While Brown struggled through hamstring problems throughout last season, Chris Brown managed to easily outplay the decrepit Eddie George during the regular season and especially during the playoffs, where he recorded his first two TDs as a pro. The Titans released George this offseason, thus opening the door for Chris to become the main back in Tennessee this season. Brown has a similar build as George (albeit less muscular) and a similar running style, but he is much more elusive and has the burst Eddie lost five years ago. If Brown gets an Eddie like workload...he will mimic same number Eddie produced 5 + years ago. Tennessee has a strong offensive line (intact from a season ago), and opposing defenses have to focus all of their attention on stopping Steve McNair & Derrick Mason, leaving Chris Brown with great opportunities.


Eddie George was let go because Tennesse can no longer afford to hold back Chris Brown. Brown took over in the 2003 playoffs (game 1--- 11 carries 61 yds and a TD, game 2--- 5 carries 35 yds and a TD). Tennessee realized that Brown needs more than 5 - 10 carries a game and deserves more. Chris Brown will be a 1300 yd back with 10 + TD's. GRAB THIS GUY in your draft. He is going way too late with HUGE UPSIDE!!!

Chris Brown maybe the next back to join the ELITE group...at the very least he is in the next TIER. He is worthy of a 2nd RD pick, anything after RD 2 is an absolute steal.

If the argument is Brown is better than George at this stage of their careers then you may have some good points but that is not the debate. To say Brown compares to the Eddie George of 5 years ago is ridiculous! George was not let go to make room for Brown, in fact it was George who left the Titans. Chris Brown is unproven and as mentioned has hamstring problems. Anyone who has ever had Hammy trouble knows the problem never really goes away, they linger and can pop up at any time. Not only that Brown isn't even gaurenteed to be the starter. There is also Holcombe to contend with who will at least be the third down back and steal carries. Brown at best will be a 3rd or 4th Fantasy RB. He can be a nice option for the bye weeks, maybe. Only as a 3rd or 4th back does Brown have any fantasy value.

So we all agree (The Titans, me, and you) that Brown is better than George. If the Titans thought George was better, they would have kept him...George wasn't asking for a lot of money, Its just that they have seen what Brown can do and must let him play. Believe me, if Tennessee had any doubts, they would had resigned him since they are a contender and could win it all...they would not let a few million dollars come between winning it all.

As far as Brown being as good as George 5 years ago...only time will tell, but today I agree he doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the ELITE EIGHT. But you say he's a 3rd RB on a ROSTER at BEST is a JOKE. Please give me 20 - 30 RB's that you rather have.

We all know Brown will definetly TOP George's numbers from last year. George had over 1,000 yards and has 15th in rushing in the NFL because of the TENN weapons. So Brown, being younger and better than last years Eddie George should easily have 1200 yards. If he does what the Titans believe he can do he should have 1300 + and double digit TD's which is definetly worth of a 2nd RD selection and either a #1 RB on your team or a HIGH #2 RB on your team.

Don't be worried about the hammy, Brown proved in the play-offs that the injury is gone and in training camp the Titans were so impressed and confident that they let Eddie go.

I am eagerly awaiting the 30 RB's that are better than C Brown...I am sure the Titans would like to see that list too.

First, I didn't say Brown is better than George. I said you made some good points if that was the debate. Second, the Titans wanted George to stay but did not want to give him a multi year deal. The reason George left was his offer was only good for 1 year and he wanted more than that from Tenn. And now the list: 1.Holmes 2.LT 3.Green 4.SA 5.Duece 6.Portis 7.Lewis 8.James 9.Dillon(10X sold me) 10.Rudi 11.Taylor 12.Faulk 13.D. Davis 14.S. Davis 15.Tiki 16.Henry 17.Barlow 18.Bennet 19.Duckett 20.Shipp 21.Westbrook 22.Garner The next 8 backs are vey similiar and this is where Brown should go. For me it goes 23.Suggs 24.Dunn 25.Martin 26.J. Jones 27.K. Jones 28.T. Jones 29.Hearst 30.Minor 31.Chris Brown
To pick Brown in the 2nd round would be 3 rounds too early.

You are losing a lot of creditability NOT being able to admit Brown is better than George. Come ON, the Titans ( a Super Bowl contender trying to get back and win a Super Bow) only wanted George as a backup and were not going to over pay a washed up RB to carry Brown's JOCK. We all know Eddie WAS WAS WAS great, but he's done. Look at the play-offs---BROWN not GEORGE was the man scoring the TD's. That told everyone (except you...don't know what your watching...maybe Eddie George reruns of mid 90's) that Brown is the future.

A washed up George had over 1000 yds last year. So again...projections are that Brown will have 1200+YDS and 10+ TD's because of the TENN weapons.

Your list has a lot of backs that will be splitting time (RBBC), will be replaced at goal line, or will not even be the starter (T Barber vs R Dayne) (M Bennett vs M Williams vs O Smith) (TJ Duckett vs W Dunn) M Shipp vs E Smith) (B Westbrook vs C Buckhalter). You list Brown in the 23 - 31 range, but you need to drop the players listed below behind Brown and make Brown a TOP 16 RB in the 2nd TIER of the RB’s and worthy of a 2nd RD pick if you wish to have 2 strong RB’s. Here are the players that SHOULD NOT be listed ahead of Chris Brown and should be in TIER 3 of RB’s:

#15 T Barber -- last year had 1200 yds and ONLY 3 TD's. Ron Dayne will be getting more playing time, and the QB situation was turned SOUTH real fast. Teams will be putting 8 in the BOX and try to make a washed up Warner OR a inexperienced Manning beat them. Tiki will not crack 1000 yds and has a hard time scoring...2004 will be even tougher.

#18 Bennett -- If he was the only MINN RB...I would agree, but MINN has too many RB's to put Bennett in TOP 25. O Smith will take at least 5 but closer to 10 carries away AND COULD take over as the starter. And at the goal line MOE Williams will take over. WAY TOO Many ???? to have as a #2 RB.

#19 Duckett -- Worse than the others mentioned...he definitely will split time with Dunn. Duckett at #19 is a reach...I thought you would have Dunn ahead of Duckett??? But you do Have George ahead of Brown...so not tooooo shocking. Atlanta will again be home to the ever-popular Dunn/Duckett RBBC in 2004. Warrick Dunn will gain more yards, and T.J. Duckett will score more TD’s...it's that simple. If Warrick Dunn was removed from the equation, T.J. Duckett COULD post solid numbers in the Falcons' new offensive system. Duckett is the type of RB that needs 20+ carries to wear down a defense, but he won't get those necessary touches with Dunn around.

#20 Shipp --- he's out for 8 - 12 weeks. Plus he lacks leadership, can't pass block, and reminds everyone of AC Green (he can't score...0 Td's last year with over 200 touches …. the TD Virgin), plus this team is too young and will suck at offense with 8 in the BOX. Team will need a leader / Vet on the field so E Smith will be the main man.

#21 Westbrook --- Durability, lack of touches inside the 10, and splitting and competing with Buckhalter make Westbrook a VERY risky pick in 2004. The most yards Westbrook has every had was 613 and he was continuously banged up. Again..just too many question marks.

#22 Garner – His best are definitely behind him and he is not a 1000 yard rusher nor a double digit TD person. Alstott will take away all goal line TD’s. Garner is good for 700 yards and 5 TD’s…that maybe what Brown has at the halfway point.

There are other backs you listed that Brown maybe a little better than, but since they are all in the 2nd Tier together it doesn’t matter what order.

1st Tier RB’s (Holmes, LT, Green, SA, Duece, Portis, Lewis) 1-7 RB’s -- 1st RD picks
2nd Tier RB’s (James, Dillon, Rudi, Taylor, Faulk, D. Davis, S. Davis, Tiki, BROWN) 8-16 RB’s – 2nd RD picks

Only Barber could go over 1,000 yards rushing and none of these backs will have double digit TD’s…why would YOU pass on a guy (Brown) that will get at least 1200 yards and 10+ TD’s??? The Titans didn’t pass on Brown, I wouldn’t pass on Brown, other owners won’t pass on Brown…Hell even UPS knows that Brown delivers. What can Brown do for you??? If you draft him…he’ll deliver. If you pass on him….you’ll have question marks….SO-à


Hippo--- Open your EYES and EARS…the word is OUT----Brown delivers!!! It’s Time to see what Brown can do for you!!!

Once again you seem to keep trying to turn this into Brown vs. George. That is not the debate. That said lets get back to the main issue. Brown is unproven. Will he put up 2nd round #'s? Possible but not probable. You are basing your entire faith in Brown from 1 play-off game. Many 1 hit wonders come up big in post season. Remember Timmy Smith? Did you pick him in the 2nd round of your fantasy draft the following season? Are you ready to pick Stokely over Harrison because of how he played in the post season? I am not ready to WASTE a 2nd round pick on Brown. Your personal attack upon me is even more proof that Brown is a dud. Instead of sticking to the issues or facts that are right in front of your face you are trying to divert the attention away from the REAL debate. If he is so good and everyone including the Titans know it why couldn't he beat out an aging Eddie George last season? Run Hard, I wish you luck this fantasy because if you pick Brown in the 2nd round you will need it.

Hippo--I would like to first apologize for making you feel like you were being attacked. Totally not my intentions...just having fun and I enjoy talking a little smack. My apologies.

The only reason I compared C Brown to Eddie is to provide some valadity to my claim that Brown should at least have 1200 yards. I understand the debate is to give reasons WHY Brown is a valuable fantasy RB, but for me to just state Brown will have 1200 yards with no reasons would be just HOT air. For me to back up these numbers I needed to bring Eddie's 2003 numbers in and explain why Brown will be able to gain 1200 yards.

Brown is unproven, BUT at worst he will still put up 1200 yards (better than Barber, Bennett, Duckett, Shipp, Westbrook, & Garner have EVER done), and he has huge UPSIDE potential that make him worth a late 2nd RD pick and a solid#2 RB in the league. Brown has the potential TO explode this year and top out at 1500 yds & 15 TD's.

You only mentioned 1 one hit RB's that didn't pan out. So no real history of 1 hit wonders at RB happenning a lot.

You mention why didn't Brown take over last year...well The Titans needed a year to make sure Brown has the real deal, plus you don't draft a rookie and tell a future Hall of Famer your benched. Tennessee is too classy for that so they let Eddie go at the end of his contract like a class organization.

If you want to go 500 this year, than buy a magazine and draft by the book...if you want to WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP...you need to find the DIAMONDS in the ROUGH that NOBODY knows about. Chris Brown is that player in 2004...if your NOT ready to take the risk, you will not reap the benefits of a Championship in 2004.

Brown at worst will get exactly what backs 12 - 25 will get at the Very least...BUT he has a very GOOD chance at becoming another Portis / LT and carry a fantasy owner over the TOP.

QUESTION: What can Brown do for you???
ANSWER: Deliver a championship.

Later

Run Hard - No need to apoligize. I understand this is all in fun I was just trying to get you to focus on the original debate. It seems we actually agree on what type of player Brown MIGHT be. A player with potential who MIGHT become this years Diamond int the Rough. He is a gamble pick. Any smart drafter does not pick a "Gamble Player" in the 2nd round. The first 3 to 4 rounds need to be proven performers to be successful in fantasy football.

He both agree he could be a STEAL and the key to winning it all. I don't agree that he is a gamble as a 2nd round pick. Drafting a guy that will at worst get 1200 yards is NOT a gamble. If you try to wait until RD 4, this guy will be long gone. You need to take calculated RISKS to win a title. He may be a RISK at RD 2...but if he runs for 1500 + yds & 15 + TD's...That's huge...at worst you may get 1200 and 10 TD's...NOT TOO SHABBY!!! This guy is unknown to the amatuers, BUT the MUST have #2 RB for crafty VETS that know how to win.

Don't get dumped on the sidelines like Eddie George. Make this guy a prioirity...he will pay big divendends.

Later